COLUMBIA CHAMBER GRADUATES 62 MIDLANDS LEADERS
62 Participants in the Chamber’s Leadership Columbia Program Honored at Graduation Ceremony
COLUMBIA, S.C. – This past June, the Columbia Chamber and the Leadership Columbia Advisory Board (LCAB) honored 62 graduates of the Leadership Columbia program. The Class of 2026 completed an orientation, a retreat, 10 class days and a class project with Cola Town Bike Collective. Since its inception in 1972, Leadership Columbia has graduated over 2,500 leaders across the Midlands.
“For more than five decades, Leadership Columbia has empowered emerging leaders with the knowledge, connections, and experiences needed to make a meaningful difference in our community,” said Carl Blackstone, President and CEO of the Columbia Chamber. “The Class of 2026 exemplified the spirit of service at the heart of this program through their partnership with Cola Town Bike Collective, creating a lasting contribution that will benefit residents and strengthen our community for years to come.”
In addition to presenting each graduate with a commemorative plaque, the Columbia Chamber, SCRA, and Leadership Columbia Advisory Board honored Tyler McKenzie, LS3P Associates, with the Glenn Jacobus award, an award given each year to a class member who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the class project and truly embody the role of a servant leader.
The Leadership Columbia Class of 2026:
| Allison Smith | Richland County Sheriff's Department |
| Alyssa Granados | Tutelage School Solutions |
| Amy Fraley | University of South Carolina |
| Andrea Fripp | First Palmetto Bank |
| Andrew Stone | SouthState Bank |
| Bency Beals | Ignite Leadership Solutions |
| Caroline Fawcett | Magnus Development Partners |
| Caryn Pumphrey | The Free Medical Clinic |
| Chris Whitehead | Edward Jones |
| Christy Jeter | BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina |
| Colishia Dunbar | Sicame Group |
| Crystal Salley | SC Department of Public Safety |
| Darain Ginyard | NP Strategy |
| Dr. Michelle Raven | Benedict-Allen Community Development Corporation |
| Eric Goff | Midlands Technical College |
| Graham Davidson | Brabham Griffin Insurance LLC |
| Greer McKeown | BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina |
| Hanna Matthews | AppleOne Employment |
| Hannah Connor | McEntire, Joint National Guard Base |
| Heather Cannon | Furniture Services, Inc. |
| Jacquila LaShaye Green | South Carolina Department of Corrections |
| Jasmine Caton | Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union |
| Jessica Reece | Unum/Colonial Life |
| Jillyn Maffett | Systemtec |
| Karin Haile | BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina |
| Kimberly Beasley | Prisma Health |
| Kimberly Blaiss | Modern Exterminating Co, Inc. |
| Kinley McDougald | YMCA of Columbia |
| Lacey Barfels | South Carolina Federal Credit Union |
| Larry McWilliams | MSS Solutions |
| La'Sasha Breland | Richland County Gov Office of Small Business Opportunity |
| Leah Wicevic | Sistercare, Inc. |
| LeQuanta Lawson | Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union |
| Louis Williams | Crave Artisan Market |
| Mallory Sparks | Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP |
| Maren Harris | Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) |
| Marketta Wright | BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina |
| Maurice Pearl | CMRTA |
| Melissa Brice | Mauldin & Jenkins |
| Nell Warthen | Chernoff Newman |
| Nick Luffman | Landmark Builders |
| Noah Moore | NAI Columbia |
| Peter Gula | BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina |
| PJ Krouse | Colonial Life |
| Rachel Snipes | Big Red Barn Retreat |
| Ray Ingram | Stingray 803 Entertainment LLC |
| Richard Miller | BACE Financial LLC |
| Shannon Collins | Palmetto GBA/BCBSSC |
| Sheldon Paschal | United Way of the Midlands |
| Stephen Lynch | Bauknight Pietras & Stormer, P.A. |
| Stormy Spivey | Prisma Health |
| Tate White | Post and Courier| Free Times |
| Taylor Wray | Re-Bath |
| Timothy Vitollo | Arthur Bank |
| Tyler McKenzie | LS3P Associates Ltd. |
| Tyra Little | Richland County Council |
| Valerie Byrd Fort | University of South Carolina |
| Veronica Deas | Prisma Health |
| Wesley Mitchell | Southern Visions Real Estate |
| Yogini Intwala | Medical Services of America |
| Zach Lundberg | Colliers International SC |
| Zachary Ohanesian | South Carolina Bar |
“It has been a privilege to watch the Leadership Columbia Class of 2026 grow as leaders throughout the program,” said Megan Newbold, 2025-2026 Leadership Columbia Advisory Board Chair. I’m proud of the lasting impact they made through their project at Cola Town Bike Collective and congratulate each graduate on this well-earned achievement.”
Leadership Columbia would not be possible without the support of the generous 25/26 sponsors.
Leadership Columbia Sponsors:
Program Sponsor: BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
Beverage Sponsor: Coca-Cola Consolidated
Glenn Jacobus Award: SCRA
Leadership Development Sponsors: BuWa Digital, Columbia Metropolitan Magazine, Columbia Museum of Art, Garvin Design Group, Phoenix Audiovisual
Class Day Sponsors:
Camp McCrady Training Center, ECS Southeast LLP, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), Heyward Career and Tech Center, McEntire Joint National Guard Base, McGuireWoods Consulting, LLC, Miller Valentine Construction, Nickelodeon Theatre of the Columbia Film Society, Prisma Health Richland, South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, South Carolina Federal Credit Union, The Laundry at Bull Street, U.S. Army – Fort Jackson
In August, the Columbia Chamber will announce the Leadership Columbia Class of 2027, which will be the 54th class in the program’s history.
About Leadership Columbia
Founded by the Columbia Chamber in 1972, Leadership Columbia strives to provide the community with an enduring source of diverse leaders who are prepared to serve their region. The 10-month skills-building program, aims to identify and motivate emerging community leaders; provide an educational experience with a strong emphasis on social and community awareness; and challenge participants to apply their talents within their community while providing an opportunity to become involved. The program focuses on showing the candidates an in-depth look at critical issues facing the Midlands.
For more information on Leadership Columbia, visit www.columbiachamber.com or contact Mary Beth Sanderson at msanderson@columbiachamber.com or (803) 733-1124.
About Columbia Chamber
The Columbia Chamber is a private, non-profit, Partner-driven organization comprised of 1,200 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions and individuals in Calhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry and Richland counties. The Columbia Chamber serves as the voice of its Partners and the business community at large on matters of economic, educational, social, cultural and political concern, as well as supports and promotes the success of its Partners through networking, professional development, advocacy and leadership. The organization has represented the interests of the local business community since 1902.
To become a Partner or to learn more about the Columbia Chamber, as well as its events, programs and initiatives, visit www.columbiachamber.com.
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